1
: something (such as a part of a sleeve or glove) encircling the wrist
2
: the turned-back hem of a trouser leg
3
a
: handcuff
—usually used in plural
b
: a usually wide metal band worn as a bracelet
4
: an inflatable band that is wrapped around an extremity to control the flow of blood through the part when recording blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Noun (2)
Examples of cuff in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the mama cat would give her kittens a cuff with a paw whenever they played too rough
Noun (2)
the policeman snapped the cuffs on and led the prisoner away to the car
Recent Examples on the Web
Joel Balsam Published, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
This effortless style features classic ankle cuffs and a single back pocket.
—Brittany Talarico, Peoplemag, 21 May 2024
Kelsey noted that Miller tried to remove a blood pressure cuff.
—Nichole Manna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2024
Try styling a pair of silver bangles or arm cuffs with a basic tank top, jeans, and ballet flats to elevate the outfit.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 9 May 2024
The nurse noted that Miller was moving continuously but didn’t write about the cuff.
—Nichole Manna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2024
Who else could make such pinpoint beef-starting seem so off the cuff?
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 7 May 2024
Anderson looked chic in a slinky, silver chain link party skirt with an oversize white boyfriend-style button-down shirt featuring an asymmetrical collar and extra large cuffs.
—Brittany Talarico, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
Tailors in Chicago, California, and New York spun out double-breasted suits, along with tailcoats with cuffs but without pockets, in bright whites, blues, and salmons.
—Larry Tye, Fortune, 4 May 2024
James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
Then his wrists and ankles were cuffed to the sides of a stretcher, and his pants were yanked down.
—Ellen Barry, New York Times, 21 May 2024
Its simplistic design includes cuffed short sleeves, a collared V-neck, and a tuckable curved hem for a casual yet polished look.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 May 2024
Since the men's fallout, Cohen has emerged as a relentless and sometimes crude critic of Trump, appearing as recently as last week in a live TikTok wearing a shirt featuring a figure resembling Trump with his hands cuffed, behind bars.
—TIME, 13 May 2024
Frank Tyson's hands were cuffed behind his back, and he was placed on his stomach at a social establishment in Canton.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 8 May 2024
Four men in black tactical gear pinned him, his face to the concrete, to cuff his hands behind his back.
—Glenn Thrush Carlos Javier Ortiz, New York Times, 5 May 2024
But the prisoner agreed to leave, his hands cuffed behind his back, after a senior officer talked with him.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
Another 173 were arrested during a separate raid of a pro-Palestine encampment on the City College campus in Harlem, where video posted to X showed officers tackling protesters to the ground before cuffing them.
—New York Daily News, Orange County Register, 1 May 2024
Noun
Joggers also usually taper at the ankle and have a cuff.
—Joel Balsam Published, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
This effortless style features classic ankle cuffs and a single back pocket.
—Brittany Talarico, Peoplemag, 21 May 2024
Kelsey noted that Miller tried to remove a blood pressure cuff.
—Nichole Manna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2024
Try styling a pair of silver bangles or arm cuffs with a basic tank top, jeans, and ballet flats to elevate the outfit.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 9 May 2024
The nurse noted that Miller was moving continuously but didn’t write about the cuff.
—Nichole Manna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2024
Who else could make such pinpoint beef-starting seem so off the cuff?
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 7 May 2024
Anderson looked chic in a slinky, silver chain link party skirt with an oversize white boyfriend-style button-down shirt featuring an asymmetrical collar and extra large cuffs.
—Brittany Talarico, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
Tailors in Chicago, California, and New York spun out double-breasted suits, along with tailcoats with cuffs but without pockets, in bright whites, blues, and salmons.
—Larry Tye, Fortune, 4 May 2024
Verb
Johnson was face down on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
Then his wrists and ankles were cuffed to the sides of a stretcher, and his pants were yanked down.
—Ellen Barry, New York Times, 21 May 2024
Its simplistic design includes cuffed short sleeves, a collared V-neck, and a tuckable curved hem for a casual yet polished look.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 May 2024
Since the men's fallout, Cohen has emerged as a relentless and sometimes crude critic of Trump, appearing as recently as last week in a live TikTok wearing a shirt featuring a figure resembling Trump with his hands cuffed, behind bars.
—TIME, 13 May 2024
Frank Tyson's hands were cuffed behind his back, and he was placed on his stomach at a social establishment in Canton.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 8 May 2024
Four men in black tactical gear pinned him, his face to the concrete, to cuff his hands behind his back.
—Glenn Thrush Carlos Javier Ortiz, New York Times, 5 May 2024
But the prisoner agreed to leave, his hands cuffed behind his back, after a senior officer talked with him.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
Another 173 were arrested during a separate raid of a pro-Palestine encampment on the City College campus in Harlem, where video posted to X showed officers tackling protesters to the ground before cuffing them.
—New York Daily News, Orange County Register, 1 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cuff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cuff
Cite this Entry
“Cuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cuff. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cuff
1 of 3 noun1
: a part of a sleeve or glove that goes around the wrist
2
: the turned-back hem of a trouser leg
3
: a band that is capable of being inflated and is wrapped around an arm or leg to control the flow of blood through the part when measuring blood pressure
cuff
2 of 3 verb
: to strike with or as if with the palm of the hand
cuff
3 of 3 noun
: a blow with the hand especially when open : slap
Medical Definition
cuff
noun1
: an inflatable band that is wrapped around an extremity to control the flow of blood through the part when recording blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer
2
: an anatomical structure shaped like a cuff
especially
: rotator cuff
repair of complete shoulder cuff avulsion —Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology
Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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